The Singapore Necklace: A Secret Love Across Two CulturesTHE SINGAPORE NECKLACE Storyline The narrative took place in 1914 Singapore in a span of ten months. A part of the British Straits Settlements finding itself well into the age of the industrial revolution, due to the opening of the Suez Canal and thanks to the islands unique location, Singapore grew rapidly into an important thriving trading post. The city has put itselftogether into a shipshape and organized place of commerce but also a proper place of living the infrastructure kept abreast of the business development; roads were built, electricity network replaced gas lights, water was pounded and piped to industries and residences - but also telephone, telegraph and postalservices were part daily life. The love story evolved not only in a place where western quality of living were injected catering for colonial life clubs, a horse race-course, sports grounds, and department stores sprung up besides markets, cinemas, parks, schools and churches but the account occurred in an era when Victorian morality of restraint, rigid social codes of conduct and class system has been instilled. Residential areas were separated based on race, non-europeans were barred from certain places and were discouraged from travelling first class. A love between a European and one from another culture wasnt quite tolerated then, certainly so were that bond between two men. In a historic era, just two years after the sinking of the Titanic,in the period the 1st World War unleashed in Europe and the year that the famous Singapore Sling was conceived, two young men living in Singapore - a British and a Chinese - discovered feelings for one another that they couldnt comprehend themselves. As their curiosity prevailed the mutual fondness blossomed in the midst of a tropical setting letting trams,rickshaws, cars, trains and boats transport them on their fine journeys and experiences. The sombre ending of the union was all to blame on the nasty World War spreading its negativity to the colonies. But in a twist of fate and after a long wait in limbo, the two lovers were united, free at last. |
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Page 7
... asked him ”Where do you stay ” ”assir anjang.” the youth said softly. In the gharry the young man tried to keep himself seated upright by pushing himself up by his arms on the seat, the sealed road surface was not always smooth causing ...
... asked him ”Where do you stay ” ”assir anjang.” the youth said softly. In the gharry the young man tried to keep himself seated upright by pushing himself up by his arms on the seat, the sealed road surface was not always smooth causing ...
Page 12
... asked from what regiment he was an officer from. ”I'm sorry, my name is Guy wson and I'm a ieutenant at the British Infantry at the Tanglin Garrison." Shan was helped onto the veranda by the houseboy and lowered into a seat not far from ...
... asked from what regiment he was an officer from. ”I'm sorry, my name is Guy wson and I'm a ieutenant at the British Infantry at the Tanglin Garrison." Shan was helped onto the veranda by the houseboy and lowered into a seat not far from ...
Page 13
... not where I stay at the barracks at Tanglin." Guy laughed and made Shan smile. ”ou must miss your family in ngland, Guy how long are you already here in Singapore' Mrs. ong asked. ”I'm almost two years in Singapore now and I miss 13.
... not where I stay at the barracks at Tanglin." Guy laughed and made Shan smile. ”ou must miss your family in ngland, Guy how long are you already here in Singapore' Mrs. ong asked. ”I'm almost two years in Singapore now and I miss 13.
Page 20
... asked. ”Well, there are a few things that they do during the weekends, we have a reading room where some read books or the newspapers and some write letters to their loved ones in ngland .We have a music room where they can play on the ...
... asked. ”Well, there are a few things that they do during the weekends, we have a reading room where some read books or the newspapers and some write letters to their loved ones in ngland .We have a music room where they can play on the ...
Page 21
... asked. ”Oh, no, don't worryl just finished going through, actually studying, and some files that my father brought down from his office in Sungei Ujong. Our extended family has some tin mines on the mainland and my father heads the one ...
... asked. ”Oh, no, don't worryl just finished going through, actually studying, and some files that my father brought down from his office in Sungei Ujong. Our extended family has some tin mines on the mainland and my father heads the one ...
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alexandra barracks already angsana arms asked bamboo bicycle Bidadari Cemetery boats British building busy Chinese Christmas close clothes coloured covered dinner dishes distance Dollah dressed drinks EUrong eyes feeling felt front garden Garrison German gharries girls glass Grandma grass Guy and Shan Guy sat Guy's hand head heard Hotel Indian kampong kissed knew kuih ladies maids Malay Mandy mind moved ndon necklace Negeri Sembilan nggi River ngland night North Bridge Road officers ong family Orchard Road ord-T peranakan Raggy rain rickshaws roof Saturday seated seemed sepoys Shan and Guy Shan looked Shan's Shan’s side Singapore Singapore Sling sitting slowly smiled soldiers soon sounds started stay stood Street Sungei Ujong talempong Tanglin Tanglin barracks thank tikars Timpang took tram trees trying turned urope uropean verandah waiting walked wooden young